How to remove the smell from a MDF furniture? SOLVED

fh991586 · Post by **fh991586** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 3:39 am

I just bought a rolling rack for my studio, but upon arriving at my place, I noticed that it had a less than welcome odor... Not stinking bad, but something like neglected stay in a humid area not well ventilated: I picked it up from a garage, but I didn't noticed it beforehand. It's not heavy, but I happen to sleep in the same room, and I know I won't be able to tolerate this continually! It looks like it's made from MDF because some hole were pierced and I can tell it's not wood or plywood. Hence the material might have absorbed the air were it stayed for a long time, and I can't remove it by just cleaning the surface. I've tried Fantastik at first, and then decided to add some lavander perfume for bathroom use. It never lasted more than a couple of minute before the previous odor came back. Now I've soaked every surface of it with 70% alcohol with a spray-like bottle, so as to make the MDF absorbs it inside. I can already tell it's not going to work... I still haven't tried to use incense, but it was my next guess, although I don't think it's gonna work either from what I see now!

Any thought? I'd prefer no to have to spray paint it, but it could be the ultimate solution in the end. I also thought about leaving it in the sun for a few days, but it's been pouring rain since more days that I can remember now...

Mission Difficult · Post by **Mission Difficult** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 3:51 am

You could try a mixture of bleach and warm water then dry it with forced hot air.

Post by **madtheory** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:40 am

OP's instincts are correct I think, it sounds like it needs drying not cleaning. Wait for the sun to come back!

Post by **vicd** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 3:08 pm

So is it mold? Not much to be done here if it's still growing. Probably just burn the contaminated MDF and fit new panels.
You might get some luck spraying it with formalin , then covering it tightly with food wrap and leaving it quiet for 1-2-3 days. Formalin is good at killing mold, fungi and their spores, but it will need time to penetrate MDF, and it's definitely not good for breathing. Then you unpack the stuff and give it some good sunbath (gives both some heating AND ultraviolet for further disinfection).

garranimal · Post by **garranimal** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 3:10 pm

You might try putting a sealant coat on exposed mdf surfaces. Polyurethane smells bad, too. Maybe acrylic paint?

fh991586 · Post by **fh991586** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 3:49 pm

I haven't seen any trace of mold, so I guess it's not too late to rescue the furniture. If I scrap the mdf, there will be only the casting wheels and the racks left...

I'll try the sun for now!

fh991586 · Post by **fh991586** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 12:06 am

The sun and strong winds were enought to chase out the smell! I got lucky...

andersenmiller · Post by **andersenmiller** » Tue Sep 13, 2016 8:12 am

Hi Buddy,

Listed below are some of the ways to remove mold permanently.

WIPE AND CLEAN

Bacteria and germs can permeate porous wood causing awful “old-smell” odors. To eliminate the smell, kill the bacteria and germs by cleaning the inside of the drawers and all surfaces with a sponge dampened with vinegar, Murphy’s Oil Wood Soap or any Anti-Fungal Detergents. Then let dry in a well ventilated area.

VINEGAR & OTHER ODOR ABSORBING SUBSTANCES

Fill a plastic or glass container/ bowl with vinegar and place in each drawer. Close the drawers and wait a few days to see if the vinegar absorbs the odor. Other odor absorbing substances like charcoal, coffee grounds, kitty liter or baking soda may also help.

NATURAL SUN LIGHT / DEHUMIDIFY

Porous wood absorbs moisture and smells from it’s surrounding environment. If your piece smells like a thrift store or old attic, try leaving the piece to dry out in the natural sun light. If you live in a humid environment, try placing your piece with a dehumidifier in a small enclosed room. Leave it running for a few days to suck the moisture and odors out of the wood.

Here are some web resources that you can also prefer to read:

https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-remove-t ... g-and-VOCs
http://www.andersenenviro.com/mold_inspection.htm
http://www.joshuakennon.com/why-i-avoid ... hould-too/

Hope so this helps you...

Have a nice day.

JędrzejNowak · Post by **JędrzejNowak** » Mon Nov 20, 2017 7:51 am

Ohh i couldn't resist myself to share my experience while i faced the same problem. That time one of my friend suggested me to use LAVINA it's a product that i used to remove the problem. Though LAVINA is a local name.
http://www.checkmattress.com i found this product here. The product basically used for mattress clean.

How to remove the smell from a MDF furniture? SOLVED

How to remove the smell from a MDF furniture? SOLVED

Re: How to remove the odor from a MDF furniture?

Re: How to remove the odor from a MDF furniture?

Re: How to remove the odor from a MDF furniture?

Re: How to remove the odor from a MDF furniture?

Re: How to remove the odor from a MDF furniture?

Re: How to remove the odor from a MDF furniture?

Re: How to remove the smell from a MDF furniture? SOLVED

Re: How to remove the smell from a MDF furniture? SOLVED